Bill Greenwood wrote:
Brian, I don't have any info on the little Mustang, but I wanted to ask what is the info on the Hurricane and the hanger in the photo with your post, modern or period?
Hi Bill,
The photo is circa 1939 of a Hawker Hurricane Mk.I #311 parked outside of the Trans Canada hangar at Vancouver Airport. Below is a little blurb off the net regarding the Hurricanes that were at Vancouver at the time. Interesting to note that the hangar is still there and is in use. Its one of three wartime hangar still at Vancouver International Airport.
Quote:
During the fall of 1938 the Canadian government ordered 20 Hawker Hurricanes from the British Air Ministry and the first of these were released immediately. Shipped to Montreal and transported across Canada, they were assembled at Vancouver, B C., the first six being completed by the end of February 1939. All 20 of these aircraft, which were the earlier Mk.I version with the Merlin II engine and the two-bladed Watts wooden propeller., were allocated to No. 1 Fighter Squadron which had moved from Calgary to train on the new fighter. During training in the west two aircraft were lost. On 2 March while taking off at Sea Island Airport, Hurricane No. 314 swerved out of control and crashed into a Ford Trimotor transport belonging to Yukon Southern Air Lines. The Hurricane was completely destroyed and the Ford badly damaged. Fortunately no one was killed, the Hurricane pilot suffering minor injuries. However on 8 June the pilot of No. 317 was not so lucky. While on a routine training flight near Mission, B.C., his engine quit and unable to make a forced landing in this area he baled out but his parachute failed to open. Later in the summer the squadron moved back to Calgary and during September moved further east, first to Ottawa and then St. Hubert where it remained for several weeks acquiring new personnel and aircraft. On 3 November 1939 the squadron began its move to Dartmouth, N.S., where they remained until June 1940 when the squadron was shipped overseas with their Hawker Mk.I and Canadian-built Mk.X Hurricanes.
Thanks for the info on the Thunder stang. We had them flying around the city last summer but didn't get a chance to go see them close up. Nice looking and performing plane from the sound of it.
Brian...